Burlington County Air Force Captain Named In Child Porn Sweep

BROWNS MILLS, NJ - An Air Force captain stationed in New Jersey has been charged with the sexual solicitation of a 14-year-old girl and an attempt to commit unlawful sexual contact with the girl, according to the state Attorney General's Office.

Donald Beckwith, 34, Browns Mills, was one of the 79 people arrested in a massive child pornography sweep, according to Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said.

He was one of eight defendants were arrested in New Jersey in Operation Safety Net on charges related to various types of alleged "hands-on" conduct, including sexual assault, luring a child, conveying obscene materials to a child, and manufacturing child pornography, according to the release:

Beckwith is accused of meeting the girl in an online chat group for children. He engaged her in sexual conversations and asked to meet her.

He then met the girl twice in Delaware. He reached under her shirt and tried to touch her breast during the first meeting. During the second meeting, he hugged her and repeatedly asked her to lie on a bed in the back of his vehicle and watch a movie with him, according to the state Attorney General's Office.

New Jersey State Police arrested Beckwith on Aug. 16 after an investigation initiated by the Delaware State Police. Detectives found over 10 nude images of an underage girl on his phone, according to the release.

Photo: Patch archive photo